Consumers show mixed reaction to Hyundai's first compact SUV

Consumers showed a mixed reaction to Kona, a compact sport utility vehicle produced by South Korea's leading Hyundai Motor as a game changer in the saturated domestic market where domestic and foreign rivals have gradually expanded their presence to undermine Hyundai's dominant position.

Many praised Kona's futuristic design but some complained about the comparatively high price.

Hyundai's sales at home have been stagnant for years due to a lack of new models, competition and a series of recalls that have raised safety concerns among consumers. In the first five months of this year, the company sold 1.82 million vehicles, down 6.5 percent a year ago.

"Kona is Hyundai's first compact SUV. It is a new strategic vehicle aimed at capturing the hearts of consumers worldwide," vice chairman Chung Eui-sun told a world premiere on Tuesday evening, adding Kona target young clients.

Despite its reputation as the world's fifth-largest carmaker, Hyundai had been left out of the compact SUV market. Kona reflects a new campaign to diversify its SUV lineup and Chung promised to release new models including crossovers at home and abroad.

Kona would be a hard puncher in the SUV market, Chung said in a confident manner."Kona's characteristics of a small but safe vehicle with a large cargo area will become the new standard in the global compact SUV market."

Hyundai will start receiving pre-orders for Kona from Wednesday. The SUV's lowest trim will come with a price tag of about 18.95 million won (16,816 US dollars) and the highest trim with about 24.25 million won.

"a365157", a user from South Korea's second-largest web portal service, Daum, praised Kona's design: "Finally, Hyundai came up with its design that would attract consumers in the global market. Way to go!"

Some suggested Kona is too expensive. "I would describe Kona with just three words: pretty, small but expensive," said "HappyLife", a user from South Korea's online community Clien. Another user "Poodam" pointed out: "If I add the all-wheel-drive option to the highest trim, I think it would cost around 30 million won. In that case, I would rather buy a mid-sized SUV."

The lowest trim of "Tivoli", a best-selling compact SUV from Ssangyong Motor, is priced at 16.51 million won, while prices for the lowest trim of Chevrolet's "TRAX" and Renault Samsung's "QM3" stand at 16.95 million and 22.2 million won.

Kona models equipped with a 1.0 gasoline turbo GDi engine and 1.6 gasoline turbo GDi engine will be available in Europe next year. In the US market, Hyundai will release Konas with 1.6 gasoline turbo GDi and 2.0 gasoline MPi engines.